Herring fans often wish the note-mongering master would strike out on his own more often, and this intimate-sounding album should give them plenty to chew on for a while.
A true miss from an artist that has definitely been way more consistently impressive than not.
Some of the greatest songwriters invariably have some of the greatest backing bands. Bob Dylan had the Band, Graham Parker had The Rumour, John Hiatt had the Goners (and now The Combo) and Ian Hunter has The Rant Band. The vibrancy with which they bring to life the material on When I'm President reaffirms why the former frontman for Mott The Hoople chooses to share headline status with them on his 20th solo album.
There was some polite banter, with Perry asking the crowd about their sex lives, but otherwise the guys kept it tight, moving from one classic JA song to the next. For true fans, this was a career-spanning, fan-based set, as heir energy was substantial, but they didn’t take any real risks either. Considering where they are in their career, this is understandable, if not expected: you’re not going find the pure adventurous spirit of a 1980s Jane’s or that of the early Pearl Jam, with the lead singer scaling scaffolding and leaping into the crowd
It’s hard to be critical of a young singer-songwriter full of promise and fanfare. However, the world already has plenty of artists who can deftly balance the sad sack act with other, more tuneful spins on the folk tradition. If LeBlanc wants to have staying power, he’d be wise to dial down the weepiness and give himself a more aggressive kick in the up-tempo direction.
Suddenly there is the sound of a cracking whip guitar, slicing through the bright sunlight and out run a bunch of young bucks with flying hair and British accents. This is not KISS and this is not Motley Crue. This is The Treatment, a band causing humongous ripples everywhere they play opening THE TOUR.
In a live setting, Van Etten rocks louder than listening to her albums alone would imply, while still maintaining a strong sense of intimacy with the audience. Several of her songs are dramatic builds to powerful moments that are captured in the studio recordings, but appear much bigger and louder on stage.
Blackberry Light is a moody collection of abstract sound that captures a wide spectrum of life. Mars delves into the darker parts of his nature, embracing melancholic tones as much as the fun, warm vibes. The spacious songs give the music room to breathe, with unspoken words and un-played notes telling much of the story. Though the album has some misfires, Blackberry Light succeeds as a singular entity that, just like life, features various moods and experiences, some of which are more exciting and memorable than others.
On an unusually pleasant August night, Perpetual Groove returned to Raleigh's Lincoln Theater for their second visit of 2012. With school not yet in session, the show was somewhat sparsely attended, but about 100 spirited fans still soaked up the band's dependable jam-rock sounds and blazing light show.
When you look at the entirety of the Blur catalog, however, as you can upon the release of this exhaustive reissue celebrating the group's 21st year, you will rediscover why Blur should always be considered–pound for pound–the best London rock band of the last two decades. And for those who cannot afford the $150 for the 18-CD, 3-DVD super deluxe shebang online or at your finer local record shop, obtaining it piecemeal is just as noble, if not more so in the fortunate event you have enough spare cash to invest in new music altogether let alone upgrades of your favorite records growing up.
